Stories

New Bluegrass Event Comes to Sumner County

Submitted on March 27, 2012 at 10:29 AM

Bluegrass music fans have a new event to enjoy this April and it's expected to bring in folks from across Tennessee. The Sumner County Bluegrass Jamboree will feature competitions, jamming and concerts. It's hosted and sponsored by Volunteer State Community College as part of their new bluegrass music degree program. It will be held on April 13 and 14. The competition starts at 6:30 p.m. on Friday with Dobro, Bluegrass Banjo, Mandolin and Guitar categories. Competition continues at 10 a.m. on Saturday with Bluegrass Band, Pee Wee Fiddle, Beginner Fiddle, Junior Fiddle, Senior Fiddle, Pee Wee Dancing, Junior Dancing, Senior Dancing and Square Dancing. There will be $2700 in cash prizes and judging by bluegrass veterans. Registration is free and open to everyone. Sign-up will be held the day of the event on-site.

"There's camaraderie among bluegrass musicians," said Vol State bluegrass organizer Melissa Du Puy. "They get together to compete, as well as informally play together. It's also fun for music fans to come down and enjoy the picking and dancing."

The public is invited to come and enjoy the competitions and the free concert on Saturday at 7p.m. It spotlights Charlie Cushman and Johnny Warren. The Likely Culprits, featuring Deanie Richardson, Melonie Cannon and Garnet Bowman, will also perform. The event is emceed by WSM radio personality Marcia Campbell and dancer and musician Larry Chunn. The Vol State Bluegrass Ensemble, Bluegrass Ablaze, will play during the Saturday competitions. The group is part of the new degree program with a bluegrass music emphasis that started this year at Vol State.

The Sumner County Bluegrass Jamboree will be held in and around Caudill Hall on the Vol State campus at 1480 Nashville Pike in Gallatin. There is plenty of free parking and food will be available for sale. For more information visit www.volstate.edu/bluegrass or call 615-452-8600, extension 2936.

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